Ideas for making a dynamic grid?

[EE]

I'm making a level editor and would really like the visual grid to be dynamic i.e being able to change cell size during runtime.
The Dynamic Grid object would be ideal for this, but it isn't working and seems broken.
So for now my grid is static, but do you guys have any ideas on making it dynamic?
Extensions are fine(standard only) and the only rule is keeping the lines to 1 pixel width.
Thanks!
//EE

[EE]

Thanks for the tip, I'll check out the Surface Object!

[casleziro]

I would use scaled active object lines, unfortunately. One line for X and One line for Y created however many times you need. It isn't the most efficient method by any means, but far simpler than the surface object and actives let you use effects/transparency.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ewlxej8m0k...lines.mfa?dl=0 check the grid origin object's values. Make sure you uncheck fine detection on your gridlines so you aren't having mmf2 attempt to compare with a scaled object: it's disastrous.

[UltimateWalrus]

It's a bit silly that normal arrays can't be resized. I can't imagine it being at all hard to implement, it likely just didn't occur to Clickteam when they were making Array.

Perhaps you could add Array resize to the feature request section of the bugbox?

[Yves]

O_o

The Array object is automatically resized when you write a cell above the limits defined in the properties.

[DaveC]

you could always do something like this >_< it's pretty basic/inefficient, but I guess it depends on HOW dynamic you really need it to be.

crude dynamic grid.mfa

[casleziro]

O_o

The Array object is automatically resized when you write a cell above the limits defined in the properties.

I don't know how everyone got on this topic, but while what you say is true yves, you can't resize the array to any size LOWER than what it has been expanded to. I believe pixelthief pointed this out before: an array will still take up the same amount of memory regardless.

[Yves]

You're right.

[UltimateWalrus]

O_o

The Array object is automatically resized when you write a cell above the limits defined in the properties.

I honestly didn't know this Yves! I just tried it and it works. Thanks for the valuable info.

In reply to the OP, this functionality is all you should really need for a dynamically enlargable level grid. I can't imagine why you'd want to make the array smaller (other than you made a mistake), so really this is what you need:

Level designer places a tile greater than level bounds -> don't need to do anything. Array will resize on its own

LEVEL DESIGNER PLACES A TILE LESS THAN LEVEL BOUNDS -> You need to run a fastloop which scoots down your level values to make room. Have an xLevelOffset and yLevelOffset, which store a bias which converts from level coordinates to array coordinates. So for example, if your first tile is at (-5, -6), then your xLevelOffset would be 5, and your yLevelOffset would be 6, mapping (-5, -6) to (0,0) in the array.

[EE]

@casleziro: I had pondered doing that but hadn't tried it due to inefficency(need ~300 actives scaled to 1280px or 1120px with semi-transparency - on my oldish laptop ^^). Your example was very nice though and streamlined, but fps went down to 20-30 and it just wasn't worth the hassle. It's a shame though that the Dynamic Grid Object isn't functioning. It's perfect for level editors. My new idea is this; Since in any grid-based game the grid will be divisable by 8 I'll use a 2-colored quick backdrop for 8x8 and 16x16 cells like I did at first, then use scaled actives to mark screen borders only. That should cut the strain I believe.

@DaveC: Thanks for the example! Though it would become a bit too inefficent when you increase the grid size.

Why I want the grid dynamic to begin with is because I'm getting tired of making a separate level editor for every project I start, so I'm trying to make one which can work for several projects at once just by changing between saved configurations.

@Everyone discussing arrays: I already have a great setup for minimal arrays using the associative array, I just wanted the graphical representation of the editor grid dynamic in cell size/count.

EDIT: Well I'll be... obviously it wasn't the actives scaling and effects that caused the slowdown. just noticed a severe fps drop occurring without them! @_@

EDIT no.2: Well I'll be again!! Got everything to work just fine! It was actually the debugger that caused the drop! After about a minute running, the app would jump to 40 fps and slowly crawl to ~25. Now it stays at solid 60 just because I unchecked "show debugger". Good mental note!